The Light Of A Thousand Points

In the eighties, I loved Reagan, Prince and mall girls. Not necessarily in that order. As the years went by, my philosophies would change according to the education I was getting from the world I was busy growing up inside of.

I voted for George H. in ’92. I wasn’t buying the new age politics that Clinton and Gore were selling. Having gone into business for myself the year before, I was leery of how a democratic administration might adversely affect my costs of doing business. I guess it’s true what they say about all politics being local.

My wife at the time, she was a dyed in the wool liberal girl and we would have the most animated debates imaginable. At the end of a long day, it was a favorite thing of mine to sit across from her with my beverage of choice in hand and let her know that I loved her in spite of the fact she was wrong. Her counter-punch was every bit as provocative, and we would just go. Nothing ever got solved, but at the end of the evening we knew the differences didn’t matter one bit. What mattered was the spirit engendered, the mutual respect we were able to fortify.

When Newt Gingrich and the Republicans swept into Congress during the mid term elections of ’94, I was feeling pretty good about things. I liked Newt. So much so that I went to see him speak at a dinner a couple years later at Franklin and Marshall College. He spoke for forty minutes, and I dug his wit and smarts. Even if I had swung my vote to Bill Clinton a couple weeks earlier.

Things had changed in the interim, and so had I.

In the infamous national election of 2000, I voted for George W. And within a couple years, I was suffering from buyer’s remorse on account of how he handled our post 9/11 world. While I was sold on his strength and dignity inside the immediate aftermath, I was selling on my vote by mid 2002.

I didn’t vote for history in 2008, instead giving my vote to John McCain. In 2012, I voted for Mitt Romney because I saw him as a bridge builder and financial wizard. And while I don’t regret my votes, I also do not resent the man who beat them. Because unlike certain of those right wing peeps, I always recognized Barack as my President. I respected the class and dignity and soul he brought to the office. And the fact that he loved Five Guys burgers and Guinness drafts, well . . I loved that too.

I voted for Hilary a year and a half ago, because I happened to agree with her on many points. And while Trump being in the other corner helped, it wasn’t the deciding factor. Truth be told, I had a brief flirtation with Marco Rubio before going all in on Hilary.

I was inspired to confess myself thanks to that picture. Because if those political giants can find their better angels, so too can I. And I’m thankful for the great expectations it provided me in the midst of a less hopeful time.

Because I don’t believe that progress is about making America ‘great again’. To my way of thinking, democracy is a forward thinking endeavor whose best days are always ahead of us. The verity of a unified republic is the trust it adheres to. A trust in our principles, beliefs and our differences.

I really do. I was leery of writing this, because I realize how divisive politics has become. And I have no desire to be divisive. So you set a very positive tone by opening the comments the way you did, and I thank you again for that.

Haha! Well, I am nothing if not earnest in my appraisals. Do I always get it right? Heck no! Not even close. But I won’t punch strictly for one party any longer. I have in the past, pondered not voting any longer. But it’s something I can do. So I should.

I’m a lifelong Dem who wants nothing more than to have a reasonable Republican to vote for. I am now at the point where I may just stop voting because neither party, particularly at the national level, has anything to offer me. I am so disgusted with where we are at now. Decades of fascination with the American political dynamic has dwindled to “save me, take me away from all of this.”

Yes. That’s why I struggle with it. But seriously … Clinton or Trump??? This is what our political system can spit out for us? And some of the names I hear of people thinking of running in 2020??? No thanks. That shack in the woods without electricity or running water starts to sound better and better.

I work for the guv’mint. I’m at a point where I can retire in 18 months. I want desperately to find that shack in 18 months and one day. And you’re right, people just don’t get it. I think that’s a reflection more on them than on you or me.

You’ve made mention of what you thought I was in the past, and I’m not gonna lie when I tell you I’m proud of that. A LOT of people believe that of me, and it’s because when it comes to social policy I am a total liberal and always will be. I don’t believe in legislating an individuals personal life and I do believe that where we can help people, we should. The arts is something I believe in very strongly but there is a fine line to walk on that one. I don’t want my government telling me what art is either.
Where I tend to the conservative side is in not wanting more government. I won’t bore the hell out of you but one example . . .
Post 9/11, Bush took an idea left over from the Clinton administration and made it a reality when he created the Department of Homeland Security. I was of the belief that the agencies who HAD dropped the ball in terms of finding a link and following it through should have been called to task. I didn’t (and still don’t) believe we needed another layer of bureaucracy that was only going to pass the buck anyways. Bush lost me on more than just that, but that’s an example of what I’m talking about on the other side of things.
All this being said, most of my friends are democrats. It’s always been that way for me. And I’ve more often been attracted to women who do not side with me on everything. It’s more interesting, and I get to learn more. I am not one of those peeps who HAS to be right. If I am wrong, I will admit it and learn from it.
As it should be.

Waitaminute! What did I say?
And for the record, I can actually understand why some people voted for the Orange One. They wanted change. He said the right words. And now you guys are stuck with him and with your (collective, not you, per se) record will probably vote him in a second term!
I think 9/11 changed everything…
There is no perfect leader – look at ours. Eesh… However, I’m fairly certain most of them brought at least one good thing to the table. Right?
I think good, honest debates and at the end, either an agreement or an agreement to disagree should come to pass… So put up your dukes!
Yes, it should be.
I’m so late in answering because, frankly, I just couldn’t sit at the computer. Plus… I am now a mere 2 episodes away from us being able to chat…

Peace and Potstickers (coz, that’s what we had…)

Yeah. Politics are not my favourite subject – I am not a follower so usually sit back and listen because I’m ill-equipped to argue.

I had a VERY perverse desire, early on in the nominations race of watching Trump swat away all these big political names. But it quickly turned into, “Okay, this was fun . . but . .” And now this.
And yes, he probably gets re-elected. His base is frothy as all get out.
As for a certain show . . YES! Just you wait girl . . just you wait! I am gonna talk your ear off on this!
Potstickers . . . mmmmmmm.

And who you kidding? You can speak on anything! And much more intellectually than most of us. 🙂

I think we all did. Till we didn’t! Makes that scene in “Back to the Future” even more funny when they ask who the president is and when they tell him Reagan, the answer is: The actor??? Well lookit us now…
I’m telling you… This waiting for my boys is KILLING me…
Yep… Called: What the hell to eat that requires zero or less work for me… Plus, trying to empty the chest freezer…

If America were to go back in time to the eighties, or even nineties, they would never believe what has happened.
Bill Cosby, America’s Father . . a rapist. Joe Paterno, Patron Saint of College Football, disgraced in a horrible child rape scandal. And Donald Fucking Trump . . President of the United States.
Vegas not only wouldn’t have taken that bet in totality, they would have called the authorities, and rightly so!

The divisive nature of politics is very depressing. I mean, this stuff IS important, and yet it turns people off to such an extent that they do not want to know what’s going on any longer. That’s no good, at all.

Why can’t we just learn from our differences? Why does everything have to be a Battle Royale? I don’t get it.

People shut down by the sheer volume of outrageous stories. I find myself having to step away from a media circus anxious to fill the airwaves 24/7 much more often (and I’m a political junkie!) which has certainly contributed to the whole mess. 😬

The idea of civil discourse seems as antiquated a thing as transistor radios and baseball doubleheaders. And that’s really too bad, because I always loved the debating. NOT the screaming over each other and spitting and vitriol that comes part and parcel with today’s political climate.
Just friends kicking back and agreeing to disagree. And at the end of it all, being plenty fine with those differences.
That picture inspires me. To see how Bill Clinton and George H became like father and son years after a very contentious election. And how W gets along with all these peeps. It’s what we should aspire to as citizens. It’s really kind of what we need more of right now.

I’m glad you chimed in, because you and me have had a few chats on different aspects of politics. And I know we do not agree on every count, not at all. But you’re one of those peeps I can always talk to. No screaming or spitting involved. Honest, civil discourse.

You are too kind. I have to say I never experienced such vitriol from supposed friends when I asked the question, “Why Hillary?” The first response was “You better not be supporting that Clownstick,” with rage. No further discussion possible. (No I was not supporting the Clownstick but what did it matter.) I see liberal rage everywhere and it covers the real fact. We are all in this mess together. You and I can talk anytime, Marc. I appreciate that.

There was a professor, I believe it was a college in Santa Fe but don’t hold me to that . . who basically said she was glad the “witch was dead” after Barbara Bush died. I’m sorry but that is simply abysmal.
And you’re right, there is a legitimate liberal rage out there, which achieves absolutely nothing. It’s two sides . . butting heads. Round and round it goes.

A variety of thoughts went through my head the first time I say this image. Besides a lot of history, such a wide array of experiences run across that photo. You got me thinking back to my votes. Who knows how many times I left the ballot blank. Not sure if I’ve ever voted for the same guy twice.

You inspire me on so many counts, and this comment is a nice little example. You’re interesting and earnest, well read and respectful. As I said to John, it also applies to you. We’ve most certainly not agreed on a lot of counts over the years. But never once did I ever see it as contentious. To the contrary, I learned from it. It made me a better, more informed person.

Differences can actually be a good thing. And yes . . that picture tells me that we can all achieve our better angels if we want to.

While listening . . therein lies the rub. It seems too few people want to listen any more. Scream and shout, yes. But man . . listening can actually learn us something! lol

I’m just joshing you. My Yankees are about twenty games behind those Red Sox already. But hey, there’s the WC these days so that’s fine, lol. I just want the kids like Torres, Andujar and Austin to progress. Winning is great, but I really, really dig just watching the kids grow up.
I still see the Astros winning it again. They’re stacked.

True about the schedule. I just find myself in a very different place with the whole Red Sox thing. I disliked them immensely before they actually won the World Series in ’04. After that it was like “Okay, they CAN talk now”.
The brawl between the two teams recently may stir up some of that old dislike, we’ll see.

Stanton had a bit of a breakout game last night with four hits. If he wasn’t the big addition to the Yankees, his .195 start probably wouldn’t have rated much attention. Personally, the slow start is much ado about nada. He’s a HR hitter whose batting average is going to settle in at .240ish. He’ll get his pops in that lineup. But I guess peeps have to rail on about something! lol

With Stanton, it’s the way he crushes a baseball that astounds me. I remember Jim Rice of the Red Sox. I wondered why anyone in their right mind would want to be a pitcher when there were guys like Rice who could pulverize a baseball like that.

I was reading this post and when I came to “…, it was a favorite thing of mine to sit across from her with my beverage of choice in hand and let her know that I loved her in spite of the fact she was wrong. … ” You’ve won my follow. I think you’re a decent man with good insights, from whom I can learn about life. Throughout my 20ish years, I also find my perceptions changing a lot. At some points, I don’t know who to believe, not sure who to listen. I feel like the world is overcrowded with overstating statements. And I’m far behind from everyone else. I’m afraid of giving misled contributions to the bad government.

Sorryless

Our mission statement here at sorryless is to provide you with the most pleasant experience humanly possible.

Just kidding!

Hit us up with any questions or comments. We’ll get along splendidly, so long as you possess a dark soul and a biting wit. And umm, don’t be a Scientologist. Because that shit is crazier than Trump’s twitter feed.